Carbide trim cutters coming..

After filling out 15+ email notifications at various reloading entities for an RCBS carbide cutter barrel, I contacted McJ Tools. They wrote me back saying "it's under consideration right now" to manufacture the RCBS clone cutters in carbide. I did find some RCBS carbide cutters in Australia! They were a bit pricy at 120.00 AU (about 85.00 US). On a normal day, you pay about 50.00 average on one of these. I can't decide if companies aren't making carbide cutters just for the reasons of selling a lot of HSS or it's the demand. Oh well.

I've had one on backorder for about 6 months at Midway and this post just reminded me. Not sure if I'll ever see it.

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Originally Posted by rototerrier

I've had one on backorder for about 6 months at Midway and this post just reminded me. Not sure if I'll ever see it.

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You will. Funny thing is, every time I have a little extra money to buy stuff, nobody has what I want. Been trying to get some white oak for my trailer OR .80+ retention pressure treated and nobody has it.

I have a RCBS carbide trimmer works well; way better than the steel. Got it directly from RCBS couple years ago.

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Originally Posted by dannyd

I have a RCBS carbide trimmer works well; way better than the steel. Got it directly from RCBS couple years ago.

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[smilie=b:

Dieselhorses,

That’s great that you found a source, I am glad I got mine for my Lyman Universal years ago!

Three44s

Way to rub it in our faces fellas.

I picked up one of the Frankford case trimmers a while back when they were deeply on sale. Works ok, but really needs a carbide. They've been unobtainium since.

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Originally Posted by Three44s

Dieselhorses,

That’s great that you found a source, I am glad I got mine for my Lyman Universal years ago!

Three44s

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I can get the Lyman cutter all day long but will not fit RCBS which would fit my trimmer.


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Brass is soft. How hard are you pushing HSS to need carbide?

Old machinist here so I know how to use the the harder tools.

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Originally Posted by jim147

Brass is soft. How hard are you pushing HSS to need carbide?

Old machinist here so I know how to use the the harder tools.

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I think it is more a thing of the non carbide trimmer getting dull over time, verses the carbide not getting dull. I have yet to find a way to sharpen the dulled cutting edge of my non dulled RCBS trimmer heads.

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Originally Posted by jim147

Brass is soft. How hard are you pushing HSS to need carbide?

Old machinist here so I know how to use the the harder tools.

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The objective is first off, longevity and second, not having to push hard but getting the job done quicker. When I used to build houses we used the old “Oldham” saw blades that weren’t carbide. Switched to DeWalt and Freud carbide blades and it was like night and day!


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I'd love to find a carbide cutter that works with the Lee case length gauge.

Lee cutters are made for a price point. They aren't particularly sharp from the factory and don't improve with use.

Last time I did 30 carbine, I had to buy a second cutter half way through.

And I've got a bunch of the Lee gauges, either factory or shop-made. Try finding a factory case gauge for a 318 Westley Richards.

I have learned that with the Lee, anneal AFTER trimming, harder the brass the better the cut.